Agriculture
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December 16, 2020
Advocates for citizens, the Citizens for Constitutional Integrity and Southwest Advocates, filed a lawsuit on Tuesday in the District of Colorado alleging that the United States and other government agencies and directors should have done more to protect individuals from pollution originating at the King II Mine in southwestern Colorado.
The parties claimed that the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) violated the Constitution when they implemented a rule which purportedly did not ensure that the mine would not have an effect on well water, wildlife, and the neighboring La Plata River. Specifically, they accused the defendants of violating equal protection, due process, and separation of powers by using a two-tiered voting threshold when passing the law, under the “unconstitutional Congressional Review Act.”
Biden Under Pressure to Appoint First Native American to Head Interior Department
Many tribal leaders, environmental groups and progressive activists are urging the president-elect to nominate New Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland as secretary of the department.
President-elect Joe Biden is under pressure to make history with his pick to lead the Department of the Interior by nominating the first-ever Native American to lead the federal agency, which oversees federal land and natural resources, and administers most programs related to the more than 550 federally recognized tribes.
A leading contender is Deb Haaland, a second-term House of Representatives lawmaker from New Mexico whose potentially history-making nomination has inspired a persuasion campaign by tribal leaders, environmental groups and progressive leaders. They say the congresswoman a lawyer, climate activist and enrolled member of the Laguna Pueblo is uniquely suited to be Interior’s first Indigenous leader.